novelraw Chapter 185 : A Qualified and Outstanding Lord
Chapter 185 : A Qualified and Outstanding Lord
Chapter 185: A Qualified and Outstanding Lord
Monica stood in the study, her gaze fixed on the storm outside the window.
Her expression was calm, but only by staring long enough into her eyes could one possibly catch the trace of madness deep within them.
「Knock knock——」
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A knocking sound came from the door.
「Come in.」 Monica said in a low voice.
At the same time, she turned back to the desk and sat down again.
The door was soon pushed open.
Annie entered alone, and the person guarding outside quickly closed the door behind her.
「Oh, it’s Annie-sis.」 Monica’s stern expression melted away like butter upon seeing Annie’s figure, instantly replaced by a smile. 「I thought it was one of those people again, coming to judge whether I’m fit to be a marquis.」
「If I can still make Lady Monica call me “sister,” I’ll be proud for the rest of my life.」 Annie smiled faintly, then sat opposite Monica. 「It’s been a long time, Marquis Monica.」
「Are you here to mock me, Annie-sis?」 Monica pouted with slight dissatisfaction. 「But yes, the last time we met was ten years ago.」
「We were so young back then.」 Annie looked at Monica.
「I don’t think we’re old now.」
「We’re mature.」 Monica corrected Annie’s words.
Looking at Monica, who was already past thirty yet behaved like a girl in her twenties, Annie let out a soft sigh. 「You’ve changed a lot, Monica.」
Monica’s smile lingered.
But after two or three seconds, her expression gradually turned calm and indifferent.
She turned her head back toward the storm outside, staring at the rain that looked like the end of the world.
For a moment, Annie also stayed silent, turning her head to gaze quietly at the downpour.
In truth, this massive storm that covered the entire Red River Territory had already begun to weaken in the past two days.
But to ordinary people, there was little difference between heavy rain and a raging storm. Even for many Bloodline Users, they would neither analyze nor care about the subtle differences in rainfall.
Only Monica, Annie, and Lily would truly pay attention to such changes.
「The rain has weakened.」 Annie sighed softly and suddenly spoke.
「Yes. The war in Garris Territory must have ended.」 Monica nodded. 「From the changes in rainfall, the outcome was probably decided a week ago. ·—The conscription order won’t be delayed much longer. The Southern Army has likely already set out, so the Duke of the Southern Region must have signed the conscription order by now. It should be on its way to the territories.」
「You’ve finally become a qualified marquis.」 Annie gazed at Monica and spoke slowly. 「A qualified Kasein Marquis. I think Marquis Visen must be proud of you, Marquis Monica Kasein.」
「Ha.」 Monica suddenly laughed. 「Knight Commander Dean once said the same.」
She turned to Annie, her eyes burning with unrestrained madness. 「I had no choice, Annie. Only after truly sitting in this seat did I realize how much hardship my grandfather endured to hold it. I had no choice, do you understand?」
「I understand.」
Annie rose, walked to Monica’s side, and gently embraced her.
Just as ten years ago, she had gained Monica’s support to secure her title over the Gem Territory.
「As I promised, I will always be your most loyal ally.」
Monica hugged Annie tightly, her voice so sorrowful it bordered on helplessness. 「I’m sorry, Annie-sis. In the end, I still disappointed you. I became a despicable lord. I even— even calculated with my grandfather’s corpse!」
「I know.」 Annie gently patted Monica’s back. 「Your pressure is too great; you had no choice. If you hadn’t done so, Count Shuvaric wouldn’t have spared the Red Eagle Territory, and you would have lost far more. I can understand your decision. Marquis Visen would understand too. In fact, knowing him, he would be delighted to see it. After all, you outwitted Count Shuvaric.」
「But I still feel too despicable.」 Monica broke into tears. 「The news of my grandfather’s death— it was leaked by me. Not discovered by Count Shuvaric’s spies. I—I—」
「But in order to make them believe they uncovered it themselves, in order to convince Count Shuvaric that the intelligence was real, you spent great effort, didn’t you?」 Annie consoled her softly. 「If it were me, I could never have done it. I surely would’ve been exposed, and Count Shuvaric would have realized it was a trap. But you’re different, Monica. You made Count Shuvaric believe you were truly desperate, lowered his guard, and blinded him to the trap. That’s your brilliance.」
「Remember, after Burton’s death, Marquis Visen had several clashes with Count Shuvaric, but none ever gained the upper hand. He even had to make many compromises.」
「But you made Count Shuvaric believe you were just a hot-blooded new lord, determined to hold a funeral for Marquis Visen rather than plotting anything. That is your brilliance, and why Marquis Visen would surely be proud of you.」
「Really?」 Monica lifted her head and looked at Annie. 「Do you truly think so, Annie-sis?」
「Of course.」 Annie nodded. 「In fact, if you hadn’t mentioned the matter of Feisha Territory and Garris Territory with Lily, Yam, and Akar last time, I wouldn’t have realized your calmness and discovered the truth.」
「So, Monica, you’re already a passable—no, an outstanding lord, a marquis. This proves that Marquis Visen was right to name you his successor.」
Monica pressed her lips together, the madness in her eyes retreating slightly. 「But schemes only work for a time. In the end, strength decides victory. The Kasein Family’s foundation is too weak. We can’t compare with the Antares Family at all.」
「If it were before the war, then yes, it would be suicidal. But now that war has fully broken out and the conscription order is about to arrive, it’s different.」 Annie shook her head. 「None of us know how long this war will last, but we can be sure it won’t end in two or three years. At this time, Count Shuvaric won’t dare stir trouble. The duke would never allow it.」
「Even if the three lords of the Fertile Plains suffer heavy losses, it won’t matter. The Fertile Territory has more than just three lords, and with the Antares Family’s support, they’ll endure the war.」
「But that will consume the Antares Family’s foundation.」 Annie continued. 「As long as they expend enough, after the war they’ll need to recover. They won’t come looking for trouble then. What we really need to worry about now is Western Wind Territory. That’s Count Fertile’s most trusted aide. If this trap can’t make Western Wind suffer a huge loss, then the Antares Family’s foundation won’t be shaken.」
「Western Wind’s true elite force is the Western Wind Cavalry Regiment. With White Mountain’s terrain, they won’t deploy.」 Monica sighed. 「And with Molly’s death earlier, Western Wind has already suffered a severe blow. I don’t think Lord Russell of Western Wind is a reckless man. Even if he seeks revenge, he’ll bide his time, not throw everything into this war.」
「That’s why Knight Commander Dean isn’t here, right?」
「Mm.」 Monica nodded without hiding it. 「My father will cut off the retreat between Eastern Mountain Territory and Western Wind. Knight Commander Dean is waiting nearby. As long as Baron Russell doesn’t act, he won’t either. Additionally, I’ve sent Karen, Dali, Shrode, Foss, Eric, and other knights to act when the time is right. They’ll decide based on the battlefield. The Soderbell Family will not suffer losses.」
Annie, having stayed in the Kasein Family for some time, naturally knew who these knights were.
Karen Hod and Dali Stone— both renowned Third-Tier Bloodline Users and veteran Household Knights of the Kasein Family.
Like Knight Commander Dean Seia, they were sworn to the head of the Kasein Family and had once been core candidates when Marquis Visen tried to establish a knight order.
Shrode was also an old Third-Tier Bloodline Knight of the Kasein Family. Previously aligned with Burton Kasein’s faction, he only joined Monica after Burton’s death. However, since he had not sworn fealty to her, he was rarely used—certainly not trusted like Foss.
Foss was a sworn Household Knight of Monica, said to be very strong, the most promising Bloodline User to reach the Fourth-Tier in the Kasein Family. Rumor had it that he was highly regarded by Knight Commander Dean, and even seen as the next possible Knight Commander.
As for Eric, he was now a celebrity in the Red Eagle Territory. After all, he was the only healer there— and a Third-Tier healer at that. Such an identity destined him for importance.
Upon hearing Monica’s words, Annie finally felt true shock.
Though Monica kept stressing that the Kasein Family’s foundation was shallow compared to the old Antares Family, the fact that she could dispatch five Third-Tier Bloodline Knights into White Mountain Territory unnoticed by Lily, Yam, and the others was enough to reveal the vast difference between them.
「It seems that aside from Western Wind, the other two lords are in for great misfortune.」 Annie forced down her inner shock and smiled. 「Now I even hope Baron Russell of Western Wind is a vengeful madman.」
Monica shook her head slightly, her tone low. 「I only hope Grandfather won’t blame me.」
「Don’t worry. Marquis Visen would surely be proud of your actions.」 Annie said softly.
「Annie-sis, would you hate me for becoming someone who schemes?」
「How could I?」 Annie chuckled. 「You schemed against the enemy. Why would I hate that? Didn’t I tell you before? No matter what you do, you’ll always be family to me. I only hope your heart doesn’t grow completely cold, because that would pain me to see.」
「It won’t.」 Monica shook her head. 「Annie-sis, in my heart, you’re family too. Always!」
「Mm.」 Annie hugged Monica again. 「I will always be your ally. The Gem Territory will always be your strongest supporter.」
But from an angle Monica could not see, Annie’s eyes shone brightly. She had to force herself to recall sad thoughts to suppress the overwhelming joy threatening to break through her smile.
Soon, after confirming her gains, Annie chose to leave the study.
As Annie smiled and bid farewell, the study door closed once more. Monica’s sorrowful expression instantly vanished.
Her reddened eyes from crying quickly returned to normal.
In a blink, no trace of tears could be seen.
She turned again toward the storm outside and touched her left eye socket. 「【Armored Demon Rabbit】’s bloodline ability—what a surprise. No wonder Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle could cry at will.」
As Monica’s words fell, her eyes reddened again, as if tears welled.
But her expression did not resemble crying at all—her gaze was calm, nearly cold. 「Sigh. If Baron Russell truly acts foolishly, things will be easier for me. 「」 This damned storm ruined my carefully designed stage.」
She had not told Annie that ever since Marquis Visen’s death, she had already planned to use it to her advantage.
Not only could she hold a funeral for her grandfather, but also ensnare Count Shuvaric, heavily wound the three lords of the Fertile Plains, and even win the hearts of the Soderbell Family. It was far more than killing two birds with one stone.
But alas.
Monica stared at the downpour, the madness in her eyes rekindling, now laced with loathing and fury.
「You seem in very good spirits?」 Akar looked curiously at Annie, whose face was glowing with delight.
「Of course.」 Annie smiled. 「I’ve confirmed it— Monica has become someone whose heart holds no warmth, who only knows how to calculate and guard the family’s interests.」
「And that’s a good thing?」 Akar was stunned.
「Why wouldn’t it be?」 Annie’s smile widened. 「It proves Monica has become an excellent marquis-lord. Of course it’s worth rejoicing.」 Her lips curved further. 「Now, I only hope she can give birth to a daughter.」
Akar looked confused. 「Why?」
「Because that way, even if she learns about us, she’ll turn a blind eye.」 Annie’s mouth stretched into a grin, unable to suppress her delight any longer. 「After all, if her daughter marries our son, their children could inherit not only the Gem Territory but perhaps also the Red Eagle Territory— as descendants of Monica Kasein’s bloodline.」
「And if her child isn’t a daughter?」
Annie sighed. 「That would be troublesome.」